Aligning Sustainable Development Goals into English for Journalism: A Case Study of Practical Application in ELT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24903/sj.v10i2.2136Keywords:
Educational Sustainable Development (ESD), ELT, English for Journalism, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Abstract
Background:
This study explores the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into an English for Journalism course as a means to enrich language learning with socially meaningful content.
Methodology:
This research addresses that gap through a qualitative case study involving 18 undergraduate students at UIN Antasari Banjarmasin. Data were collected from teaching resources, student outputs, and reflective journals, and analyzed thematically. The research examined the design and implementation of SDG-based mind-mapping, writing broadcast news scripts on local issues, and recording news readings, aiming to connect journalistic tasks with global concerns.
Findings:
The findings revealed that these tasks not only improved students’ language proficiency and media literacy but also deepened their critical thinking and awareness of sustainability issues such as gender equality, clean water, and public health. Students were able to contextualize global goals through local narratives and developed confidence in using English for real-world communication.
Conclusion:
This study offers a replicable model for embedding socially meaningful content into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses, particularly in English for Journalism context, and proposes pedagogical strategies that educators can adapt in diverse contexts.
Originality:
While previous research has explored the theoretical potential of SDGs in fostering critical thinking and global awareness, there is limited evidence of how these goals can be applied in teaching activities. By documenting and reflecting on the teaching process and student responses, this study can enhance both language learning outcomes and student awareness of global issues.
References
Abdujabborova, K. (2025). Methodology of English Language Teaching to Journalism Students: Experience of Foreign Countries. Ethiopian International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 12(2), 42–46. https://doi.org/https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=14956780754612915507&hl=en&oi=scholarr
Asif, T., Guangming, O., Haider, M. A., Colomer, J., Kayani, S., & Amin, N. ul. (2020). Moral Education for Sustainable Development: Comparison of University Teachers’ Perceptions in China and Pakistan. Sustainability, 12(7), 3014. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073014
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2020). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 328–352. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238
Buck, R. H., Abu-Hassan, J., & AlDarwish, S. (2024). Implementing SDGs in the English language classroom. Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 3(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56230/osotl.78.
Cordova, M. E. (2024). Integrating sustainable development goals in English language and literature teaching. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1330034
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design (5th ed.). SAGE Publication.
Čučković, A. Ž. (2022). The right to education as a building block of competence for democratic cultures in sports pedagogy. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 35(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2021.1998788
Dewi, R., Palimbong, D. R., La’biran, R., & Kambuno, R. (2024). English Learning Material for Journalism Courses: What are Students’ Needs? Journal of English Education and Teaching (JEET), 8(1). https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/JEET/article/view/32762/14157
Dudley-Evans, T., & St John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for specific purposes. Cambridge university press.
F.B, B. (2024). Enhancing Journalism through English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Methodologies. “Science and Innovation” International Scientific Journal, 3(4). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11080673
Glavič, P. (2020). Identifying Key Issues of Education for Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 12(16), 6500. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166500
Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes. Cambridge university press.
Koludrović, M., & Mrsić, A. (2022). The attitudes of initial teacher education students towards teacher socioemotional competence. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 35(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2021.2010114
Kwee, C. T. T. (2021). I Want to Teach Sustainable Development in My English Classroom: A Case Study of Incorporating Sustainable Development Goals in English Teaching. Sustainability, 13(8), 4195. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084195
M.S, A. A. Y. (2023). Pelatihan Video Jurnalistik Mahasiswa UIN Khas dalam Membangun Jiwa Jurnalis di Era Digital Media. Al-Khidmah Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 3(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56013/jak.v3i1.2184
Mambrasar, G. B. (2024). Indonesia Perlahan Tapi Pasti Mencapai Target SDGs Tahun 2030. CNBC Indonesia. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/opini/20240419134328-14-531683/indonesia-perlahan-tapi-pasti-mencapai-target-sdgs-tahun-2030
Mambu, J. E. (2023). Embracing sustainable development goals critically to explore life purposes in english language teacher education. Teflin Journal, 34(2). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v34i2/264-282
Misiaszek, G. W. (2022). An ecopedagogical, ecolinguistical reading of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): What we have learned from Paulo Freire. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 54(13), 2297–2311. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2021.2011208
Nicholas, H., & Starks, D. (2014). Language Education and Applied Linguistics Bridging the two fields (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315818030
Rahman, M. (2015). English for Specific Purposes (ESP): A Holistic Review. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2015.030104
Ribeiro, J. M. P., Hoeckesfeld, L., Magro, C. B. D., Favretto, J., Barichello, R., Lenzi, F. C., Secchi, L., Lima, C. R. M. de, & Guerra, J. B. S. O. de A. (2021). Green Campus Initiatives as sustainable development dissemination at higher education institutions: Students’ perceptions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 312. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127671
Salmani-Nodoushan, M. A. (2020). English for specific purposes: Traditions, trends, directions. SIELE: Studies in English Language and Education, 7(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v7i1.16342
Salniwati, S., Rustiani, K. W., Burhan, F., Nurtikawati, N., Heli, W. O., & Alimin, L. (2022). Pelatihan Jurnalistik Dalam Menulis Buletin Dengan Konten Budaya. Community Development Journal: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 3(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31004/cdj.v3i2.5932
Shulla, K., Filho, W. L., Lardjane, S., Sommer, J. H., & Borgemeister, C. (2020). Sustainable development education in the context of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 27(5). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2020.1721378
Tarman, B., & Dev, S. (2018). Editorial: Learning transformation through innovation and sustainability in educational practices. Research in Social Sciences and Technology (RESSAT), 3(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.03.01.ed
UNESCO. (2012). Education for Sustainable Development: Sourcebook (Learning and Training Tools. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Wang, X.-Y., Li, G., Malik, S., & Anwar, A. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on achieving the goal of sustainable development: E-learning and educational productivity. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 35(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2021.1927789
Wismanto, A., Ulumuddin, A., & Siroj, M. B. (2022). Pengembangan media pembelajaran e-learning berbasis moodle pada pembelajaran menulis berita. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra Indonesia, 11(1), 17–24. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=734635992549643387&hl=en&oi=scholarr
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publication.
Yu, B., Guo, W. Y., & Fu, H. (2024). Sustainability in English language teaching: Strategies for empowering students to achieve the sustainable development goals. Sustainability, 16(8), 3325. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083325
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Afifah Linda Sari, Radityo Tri Nugroho
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
